Kinshasa goes to war against “anarchic housing” and leaves local residents in the lurch
Following deadly floods in April, authorities in the Congolese capital denounced the "uncontrolled urban planning" that caused the tragedy. They began a campaign to demolish these makeshift dwellings near waterways. Families, given only a few days' notice, found themselves homeless.
On the night of April 4-5, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was hit by torrential rains, causing the Congo River to flood and causing deadly flooding. A few days later, government spokesman Patrick Muyaya reported at least 75 deaths and approximately 11,000 people affected.
According to local authorities, this heavy toll is the result of the proliferation of makeshift dwellings, particularly vulnerable to bad weather, built hastily on unpaved streets and outside any legal framework. They have therefore announced a campaign to demolish "anarchic housing" in various neighborhoods of this megacity of 17 million inhabitants.
“The Congolese capital is often singled out for its uncontrolled urbanization, its lack of planning, and the resulting environmental risks,” notes the Congolese website Actualité CD . The provincial Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works, Alain Tshilungu, traveled in person to oversee the work in the Ngaliema neighborhood, located in the northwest of Kinshasa and bordered by the Mayi ya Ntaba River. He featured himself in a series of videos posted on social media in early May.
Against the backdrop of epic music, the minister knocks on the doors of the houses to inform the occupants that demolition will soon begin.
Courrier International
